The human brain is the most complex computer on earth today. It has a larger memory capacity than a supercomputer and is the reason why humans are different from other animals. But this organ is still filled with various mysteries. Therefore the BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN) project is trying to produce the most complete brain map and it will cost $500 million (~RM2.3 billion).
This project will attempt to identify and produce maps of neural and nonneuronal cells in the entire human brain. There are over 200 billion cells in the human brain and that is why the project is expected to take five years. The Allen Institute in Seattle will lead the project with the help of 17 other institutions based in the United States, Europe and Japan,
The original BRAIN (Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) project was announced in 2013 by President Obama to map the brain. In the early stages of the laboratory mice brain was successfully mapped with more than 100 cell types identified. Based on this success, the human brain will be mapped using the same technique but will be more difficult because the human brain is 1000 times larger than that of mice.
In addition to brain mapping, brain changes based on differences in age and ethnic background will also be done to see how the brain changes year after year.